What's everyone's take? My impression is that this class of graduating seniors have BY FAR the best players. They consists of Audra cohen (since graduated), Lindsey nelson, Susie Babos, Susie Zemenova, Riza zalameda, Kristi Miller, megan moulton levy. WHY you ask?
Let's break it down by NCAA finals:
in 2005 when they were all freshman, the finals was between Audra cohen and Zemenova! Zalameda was a semifinalist. THese girls were only freshman, and they'd beaten big itme players like Megan bradley and julie coin (who is now ranked top 200) to get there.
Sophomore year, the finals was Susie Babos and Lindsey Nelson. again they stopped everyone from other years from getting there. The other semifinalists? one was Megan levy, who is also from that year.
Junior year, Audra cohen beat Lindsey nelson. one of other other semifinaliss was zemenova.

So basically in the last 3 years, this class of players who are now all seniors (except cohen who was graduated) has taken up 6/6 spots for the ncaa singles finals, and 9 of 12 spots for semifinalists. PRetty amazing.
This year being that they are all seniors, i don't see that changing. They are all so hungry for it.

Player by player. at least the ones I know, have seen play.
1. Aurelia, by far the best record this year, seems to be counterpunch, mediocre serve, but can hit some aggressive groudies. not that impressed when i saw her play.
2 Mijacika. a smooth player with great placement/powerful serve, tall, lanky, fast. I think she can go far in the tournament, maybe a qrtrfinal
3. barte. very short, small player, hwo is awesome in her fluidity, and complete game. she can be overpowered, but there's very few in college who can do it, maybe babos, zalameda, or she can be frustrated. i see her getting to the qrtrs or semis.
4. cossou- counterpuncher, great backhand, mediocre fh and serve, excellent defense. highly overranked. I see her getting to 4th round.
5. mosolova- boring counterpuncher, no weapons, hits balls deep. maybe 4th round.
6. fink- counterpuncher, but advantage in that she's a LEFTy, who hits with a ton of spin on serves and fh, fast too, frustrates the hell out of players. see her getting to qrtrs, maybe sneaking into a semi if she meets the right opponent.
7. mcdowell, this girl came out of nowhere, but she can play, she's fit, mediocre serve, but real HEAVY and deep shots off both sides. loves to attack serves w/ er heavy fh. she does it consistently, so she'll easily overpower the weaklings, ball pushers. i see her getting to qrtrs.
8. riza zalamdea- small girl, tons of power, hits one hander, can hit winners out of nowhere and errors too. great net game. the most complete game out of ALL college players. she has wins over near top 100 players b/c she's so complete. she can definitely win the whole thing, and i know she wants it. semis or better!!!
9. marand, never seen her play.
10. kirsti miller- fast girl who loves to dictate w/ her heavy heavy fh. great movement, throws a lot of offpace shots, loopers and slices. very consistent. I see her getting to qrtrs.
11. rose- inconsistent. maybe 4th round
12. moultn levy- great payer, like conchita, but seems to have lost smething this year. her speed ?? maybe 4th round
13. jessica ngyuen- small player who wans to be powerhitter. she'll get hit off the court. maybe 4th round.
other players i like
Nelson- one dimensional 2 hander off both sides, her game lives and dies by her confidence and serve. if she gets it back, then watch out for her. you don't make 2 consecutive ncaa finals by luck. i don't see it happening this year though.
babos- the most successful player in last 4 years aside from audra cohen. she's won 1 ncaa, 2 riviera all americans, can play awesome or like shit. hits real hard, great feel, so so serve. it depends on how hungry she stays after going far in the team competition.
falcon- this girl's counterpuncher, but her level is not as good as last year.
valverdu- short, but good claycourter w/ all the shots.
gloria- thin girl, but loves to dicate w her forehand. not sure bout her form, but you gotta watch out for anyone whose beaten hantuchova on the pro tour.
zemenova- former ncaa winner, i see her getting back to semifinal status.
other plaers to watch out for, schnack, remynse, nze, petuhkova
Lot of the final results will depend on the draw, matchups, etc.

I called the upsets for Rose and Cossou. I'm surprised Nelson beat Falcon so easily. maybe she's catching her form again. Cohen loses again so easily. really pathetic i say.

tucker1989

May 22nd, 2008, 04:13 AM

I was impressed watching Lindsey against Lin in their dual match the other day; she seemed to be playing at a level pretty close to her form in last year's championships. There is some mix-up between the HTML and PDF draws regarding the Lui/Babos match, with each showing a different winner. I think that Zalameda is playing great, confident tennis, and, at this point, I wouldn't bet against her.

tennis_pIayer

May 22nd, 2008, 04:44 AM

lindsey's serve was pretty subpar in that match, but i'm sure overall much better and closer to last year than this whole year. Good for her. i'm cheering for her. Out of everyone, the one she should fear most is barte. she hates players like her.

gouci

May 22nd, 2008, 06:46 PM

I was impressed watching Lindsey against Lin in their dual match the other day; she seemed to be playing at a level pretty close to her form in last year's championships. There is some mix-up between the HTML and PDF draws regarding the Lui/Babos match, with each showing a different winner. I think that Zalameda is playing great, confident tennis, and, at this point, I wouldn't bet against her.Babos lost to Lui. But I wonder how big a factor the downer of losing the NCAA team title the day before contributed to Babos, Cassou and Visico all losing in the 1st round?

tucker1989

May 22nd, 2008, 09:54 PM

Well Lindsey just lost 6-2 7-6(3), so her college tennis career is sadly over. My pick for the title, Zalameda, is still alive though!

tennis_pIayer

May 22nd, 2008, 09:56 PM

Nelson loses to Zsilisnka, in an ugly fest. Nelson really has such a one dimensional game. She had no answers to zz's moonballs. IT's a shame in 4 years of college ball, she still hasn't learned how to hit slices, lobs, volleys or overheads. So many easy misses. Oh well, it's sad her college career came to an end on such a low note, but it just wasn't meant to be. I'msure she won't make waves on the pro circuit.

tennis_pIayer

May 24th, 2008, 05:42 PM

Nelson loses to Zsilisnka, in an ugly fest. Nelson really has such a one dimensional game. She had no answers to zz's moonballs. IT's a shame in 4 years of college ball, she still hasn't learned how to hit slices, lobs, volleys or overheads. So many easy misses. Oh well, it's sad her college career came to an end on such a low note, but it just wasn't meant to be. I'msure she won't make waves on the pro circuit.
predictions

McDowell vs Zemenova. I'm not surprised to see zemenova in the finals, but dfinitley surprised to see mcdowell. I would'va thought that when the draw came out, she'd lose to someone like Nelson, i guess it just fell her way. good on her.
Zemenova beats Mcdowell and wins her 2nd championships!!! that's my prediction. she makes it 4/4 for the class of 2003 in ncaa champs.

tennis_pIayer

May 26th, 2008, 11:47 PM

McDowell vs Zemenova. I'm not surprised to see zemenova in the finals, but dfinitley surprised to see mcdowell. I would'va thought that when the draw came out, she'd lose to someone like Nelson, i guess it just fell her way. good on her.
Zemenova beats Mcdowell and wins her 2nd championships!!! that's my prediction. she makes it 4/4 for the class of 2003 in ncaa champs.
McDowell really proved me wrong. I'm amazed how easily she won her last several matches. I mean I knew the girl had game, and has great movement, great great heavy and deep forehand, but didn't think she could outrun and outhit practically everyone. Good for her. The only american amongst mostly top foreigners like babos, zemenova, mescivite, mosolova, etc, and she comes through for good old america!

tucker1989

May 26th, 2008, 11:54 PM

I too am surprised by McDowell's victory, but I am excited to have another American champ after Cohen last year. After a disappointing performance for Georgia Tech in the team competition, this win is great for the program, and she is only a sophmore! Also, I am so psyched for Riza and Tracy in doubles. They have both been such great ambassadors for college tennis over the past four years, so it is great to see them capture this title!

tennis_pIayer

May 27th, 2008, 02:24 AM

I too am surprised by McDowell's victory, but I am excited to have another American champ after Cohen last year. After a disappointing performance for Georgia Tech in the team competition, this win is great for the program, and she is only a sophmore! Also, I am so psyched for Riza and Tracy in doubles. They have both been such great ambassadors for college tennis over the past four years, so it is great to see them capture this title!
More amaziing is how easy she won it, AND the fact she was not even a top recruit from high school. SHe wasn't even ranked top from georgia (def not a powerhouse). She was ranked about 35 in the country for US juniors.